It turns out Cousins had a much calmer media interview on Friday, with The Bee's Ailene Voisin. Her Sunday column advocates keeping Cousins and firing Geoff Petrie, who has been absent throughout this ordeal. (A. This is my surprised face. B. Sam Amick reports that Petrie won't be the GM next season.)

Here's where Cousins talks about what has been weighing on him.

I remain totally uncomfortable discussing other people's mental health. But Voisin is the third reporter (following her colleague Jason Jones and Amick) to write that the Kings requested he see a counselor but that D.M.C. refused. That line about depression resonates on this note. Does Cousins think that only depressed people see mental health professionals? Because that's definitely not the case. And frankly, I'm not sure any reasonable person thinks Cousins is depressed.

But that he's stressed? Yes, that makes sense. And mental health professionals can certainly help with that.